Parenting is a huge responsibility and we are thrilled that you are taking this step of faith. Dedicating a child acknowledges that our children are a gift from God and we ultimately need His guidance to train up our children and carry out our responsibilities.
Child dedication is a formal invitation to our Heavenly Father to give us, the parents, the grace and wisdom to nurture and love with our children in every season and through every phase.
One of the best Scripture passages to understand the meaning of dedication is found in Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (NLT):
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
If you really want your child to learn to love and follow Jesus, then you have to realize that your life is going to be the greatest example of loving God your kids will ever see.
The second thing Moses points out is, it’s the parents' responsibility to teach their children who their Heavenly Father is and what He is really like.
Your church family at North Shore can provide a teaching environment that introduces your kids to Jesus. As the parent, you should be looking for teachable moments that arise throughout day-to-day life. You can teach your children how to pray. You can demonstrate how to read Bible stories and ask questions to learn what they mean. Once they are old enough, they can begin to pray and read on their own.
We know you want to give your children the right things, that’s why you’re here. Your church family values you. We want to help in any way we can. We honour you and your family for making this decision to dedicate your child to Father God. Because of your faith and for taking this next step, it is our commitment to you that your little one and your family will always have a spiritual family here at North Shore Church to support and encourage you.
Mark's Gospel tells us a story about Jesus that demonstrates what we’re doing when we dedicate our children. It illustrates Jesus’ heart towards our kids and families. He wants us to bring our families to Him. He has something to offer to our kids, and He has something to offer to us. As we bring our children to Jesus, we recognize that they are His and He has entrusted them to us for a time. It’s found in Mark 10:13-16 (NLT):
“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.”
Parenting is like stewardship. As followers of Jesus, we acknowledge that everything we have is a gift from God. One day we will give an account to God for how we have managed what He has entrusted to us, including our kids. When we dedicate our children, we are acknowledging that our kids are a gift given to us by the Lord to love and steward with His help.
I have no doubt that you are the kind of parent that wants to give your child the best and get this parenting thing right. As much as we know and as good as we are at parenting, it is always wise to invite God into the picture and lean into His wisdom to lead us along the way. Proverbs 3:5-6 says:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
God can be trusted, and we will always need His wisdom in every area of life. Child Dedication is the formal invitation before God and your church family. It is a confession that you are not willing to walk this parenting road alone. You are going to trust in the Lord and lean into Him.
The author of Hebrews says that we should, “Give honor to marriage, and remain faithful to one another in marriage...” (Hebrews 13:4). We believe one of the best gifts you can give your children is a healthy, stable relationship with your spouse. Prioritizing your marriage and your spouse is in your families’ best interest.
As you are about to enter into the unique commitment of Child Dedication, I want you to remember the first commitment you made that started this whole process, the commitment of marriage. If you haven’t yet made that commitment, then it would be an excellent step to take, because the foundation of a healthy family is a healthy marriage.
We also understand that many Dad’s and Mom’s find themselves in a place where they are raising their kids as a single parent. We want you to know that we admire your strength and courage to give your children the best and we believe God’s grace is sufficient for you every step of the way. We also want you to know that you have a whole family here at North Shore Church that wants to support you and help in any way you need. Even though you might be standing alone, we want you to know that you are never alone. Your Heavenly Father is always there, and so is your church family.
